Here is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Golf-Fowler has yet to make a decision on LIV Golf ahead of the PGA Championship
American Rickie Fowler said on Monday he had yet to decide whether to take part in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, days before reapplying for a maiden PGA Championship title at the Southern Hills Country Club. Top golfers descended on Tulsa, Oklahoma ahead of the competition amid controversy over upstart LIV Golf, which aims to challenge the PGA Tour.
Golf-Nicklaus turned down offer to be face of Saudi-backed tour report
Golfing great Jack Nicklaus has turned down an offer worth more than $100 million to be the face of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational series that hopes to challenge the PGA Tour, according to a report on Monday. Nicklaus, who has a record 18 major titles among his 73 PGA Tour victories, said in a post on the Fire Pit Collective website that the series organizers asked him to lead the big money tour.
MLB roundup: Willson Contreras slam sparks Cubs rout
Willson Contreras’ grand slam featured an eight-run first, and Wade Miley had just one hit in seven solid innings, as the Chicago Cubs snapped a five-game home skid with Monday night’s 9-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chicago was leading 4-0 when Contreras hit the 100th home run of his career, well into the left-center bleachers off Bryse Wilson to clear the bases and essentially secure his team’s third straight win. Ian Happ and Yan Gomes each had three hits with an RBI for the Cubs.
Football-Milinkovic-Savic wins Lazio’s last point at Juventus
A stoppage-time goal from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic earned Lazio a 2-2 draw with Juventus in Serie A on Monday, a point that sealed the Roma club’s place in the Europa League next season. eclipsing the farewells of Giorgio Chiellini and Paulo Dybala. Already assured of a fourth-place finish this season, Juventus could take the game against Lazio under no pressure, taking the lead in the 10th minute after Dusan Vlahovic’s flying header found its way into the net.
Football-Arsenal falters in the race for the Champions League with a defeat against Newcastle
Newcastle United dealt a blow to Arsenal’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League by beating them 2-0 in the Premier League on Monday. An own goal from Ben White and then a late January strike signing Bruno Guimaraes sealed Newcastle’s victory and left Arsenal two points behind Tottenham Hotspur in fourth in the table with one game of the season remaining.
Football-Ten years of collapsing boom, Chinese football in a spin
A decade after the splash of Chinese money made waves in the global football market, the once certainty that China would become a major player in the game is looking more and more like a long-odds bet. The decision to forfeit rights to next year’s Asian Cup final, which was taken by China last weekend citing COVID-19 uncertainties, has left Chinese football facing an uncertain future.
Tennis-No tournaments in China as WTA releases updated schedule
The WTA released an updated tournament schedule for the 2022 season on Monday, with no events taking place in China and the location of the season-ending WTA Finals yet to be disclosed. The Tour said last month it was still working to find a solution to the standoff with China over the Peng Shuai issue and would not return to the country this year.
Golf-Australia’s Lee Leads Min Woo In ‘Silent’ Sibling Rivalry
Australian Minjee Lee challenged her little brother Min Woo to emulate her winning form on the LPGA Tour by winning the PGA Championship this week. World number four Minjee made her major championship breakthrough at Evian last July, two weeks after her brother won the Scottish Open in a golden fortnight for the family.
Nestor Cortes calls old tweets ‘unacceptable’
New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes spoke to reporters on Monday to address the situation with his Twitter account, in which several older tweets using racial slurs resurfaced on Sunday. The Hialeah, Florida product said he deactivated the Twitter account in response and, when asked about the tweets, admitted remembering it.
Swimming-Chalmers hopes ’40-year-old’ body can hold out until 2024 Games
Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers says shoulder surgeries left him feeling like a 40-year-old at the age of 23, but hopes his body will hold up to more Olympics in Paris in 2024. The South Australian, who won 100m freestyle gold in Rio and silver in Tokyo, said daily activities had become harrowing after years of surgeries and punishment in the pool.
(With agency contributions.)